That D—-d Sign Has Got To Go -or- We’re Full Up!

This past week has been a week full of worrisome happenings: a kitten we adopted out has gone walk-about causing major concerns for her new owners; I have had tremendous headaches complete with brain scan to see if there was something amiss there (and it did confirm I do, indeed, have an actual brain); and a dear friend is very, very ill in the hospital.
Today, I saw a cat that has been hanging around the farm duck into Hizzoner’s tractor shed. Carefully, I opened the door. I got a very quick glance at the face of the cat, then spied two smaller versions of said cat. Yup. Lightening does indeed seem to strike twice. A mama-cat moved her kittens in.
I only saw the two kittens and the mom, but we just don’t have room for any more cats. And the shelters are turning away animals here due to over-filled capacity. To top it off, we are people who just can’t ignore them. I did put out some food and drink for the mama. This damned conundrum! I will make sure these guys have food and drink available except at night when the kitty-killers (aka coyotes, skunks, racoons…loose dogs) come around.

Yogi Berra said it right…

“It’s Deja Vu all over again!”

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Happy Birthday to the Bonzo Brothers!

One year ago today, under our front deck/step, a hungry, dusty, very pregnant young cat, abandoned by her humans, delivered her kittens. Young and on her own, not even a year old herself, she raised six beautiful babies, all safe and secure in her well chosen den. About mid-May, two humans not only trapped her, but removed said decking and nabbed her six babies as well. That’s how Mama (aka Daisy May) came to live with us.
And as those kittens grew, we were able to find good homes for all but two of them: Mooch and Rascal.

Happy Birthday, Boys!

I can’t imagine life now without Daisy and the “Bonzo Brothers”, as we affectionately call Mooch and Rascal. They have added to our lives in richness and warmth with their antics and love.

You did good, Mama…

…now will you move so I can have some of my own pillow?

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Mooch has the Right Idea…

It’s been snowing today. We’ve just received about a foot of new snow, but are thankful it isn’t the four feet we got at Christmastime. I don’t think I could take another round like that.
Things have been busy, but somewhat odd around Oleo Acres. Having my Hired-Hand-With-Benefits home is hard to adjust to. He is healing incredibly well but is now getting to the point where he’s getting bored yet he’s still recovering from surgery so he can’t do everything he wants to do. I am stuck somewhere in the middle of enjoying having him home, or beaning him with a frying pan. Take your pick. He hasn’t learned that just because he can’t do things he wants to do is no reason to interrupt my schedule. 😉
One thing I have enjoyed is not having to get up at the crack of Dawn. We’ve actually slept until 7:30 or 8 in the morning! Incredible! the sheep have gracefully adjusted their demands as well. In fact, I have found them all to be sleeping when I head out to feed. What a Lazy Bunch we’ve become. I love it!

As you can see below, Mooch has adjusted quite nicely to the tempo around here. He and his brother, Rascal (seen below brooding behind the loveseat that he can’t have the chair Mooch is in), are now 9 months old and huge! I will try to get some photos of Rascal and his puffy-tail. And Daisy May (aka Mama) is doing fine as well. Her biggest issue is that she wants to sleep on my head at night and I want her to sleep elsewhere. We have had to resort to barriers to our bedroom that allow them to look in, cry and be pitiful while we try to remain in control of our bed and keep cat dander to a minimum.

Mooch in Repose

Frustrated Rascal

Hopefully I can return to blogging more often. The HHWB has been working on his computers. I have, wisely, stayed out of the office and his way even though that means less chance of doing emails, blogging or reading friends’ blogs as well.

But then there’s nothing wrong with a blanket, a comfortable chair, a good book, and a roaring fire in the woodstove. Right, Mooch? Mooch?…Mooch! Darn that cat!

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Mooch and Rascal’s Busy Day

The kittens, Mooch and L’il Rascal, know I’ve been busy getting things straightened up around the house before my HHWB (Hired-Hand-With-Benefits) goes to the hospital.

Apparently, they take their work very seriously as shown below…

Need I say more? I think not. The picture truly is worth the 1,000 words that crossed my mind upon this discovery. Thanks, lads. I appreciate the thought…I think.

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He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

I walked out into the sunroom today and saw this…Rascal sleeping on top of Mooch. Best of Buds. It doesn’t get better than this. 🙂

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The Kindnesses of Others

I have been amiss in posting lately, for a variety of reasons…mainly due to it being summer and being outside instead of in at the computer. I have a couple of belated “Thank Ewes” to some dear Friends.

Our friends, Steve and Carole, used to be our next-door-neighbors when we lived up the mountain, about 1/4 mile from where we now live. They used to split their time between Phoenix and Flagstaff but have since moved closer to family in Texas. Now they will be here for part of the year, the remainder in the Lone Star State.
They both know of our, er…my affinity for cats. Any loose or stay feline seems to find its way to our door (er, there’s that “my” again!). My “Hired Hand With Benefits”, aka my DH, says there must be a sign that some cat has posted somewhere in the neighborhood much like the Kind-Hearted-Woman signs the hobos used to leave during the Depression announcing where a warm meal could be found. Carole just laughed when the story of the mother cat and kittens under the front step was told to her. This, I’m sure, is Steve and Carole’s perverse sense of humor:

The doormat arrived shortly after the post about finding the little family. And yes, Carole…I have put it in front of the door! 🙂

And Saturday I found a small box in our mailbox when I went up to get the mail. It was from my sheepy-cyber-bud, Michelle. Inside was a pink-sweatered ewe named “Flora” as well as a cup of cherries dried from Michelle’s own tree and Tina’s fabulous “Chocolate Coma Cookie” recipe. We’re supposed to have drier conditions this week so I believe I will just have to make some cookies for myself. The Hired-Hand can have his Tim-Tams from New Zealand. heeheehee

You’ll never know just how much these have cheered me up. It’s been a hectic summer even if we didn’t go to Oregon. Between kitten-sitting, learning I can’t do some of the things I used to before back surgery, and trying to keep things on an even-keel around here these remembrances have made me laugh and given me hugs. Thank you all for your gifts!

Now if I can only find that blasted sign and remove it before any other cat sees it…

NOTE: My DH has pointed out that there must be a connection between me and most of the animals I have. Most all of them are black or some color-form of black shade. Hmm. Could it be something in that Celtic background of mine? I wonder…

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Dora and Pippi Off To Their New Home!

Our friends, Melanie and her hubby, Mark, have taken possession of the two kittens they fell in love with two months ago. A-Dora-ble Dora, the Explorer and her sister, Pippi Longstockings, have gone off to live down the road from us. Bless Mel for keeping me posted on how the girls are doing.
I have known Mel for 20+ years now. She always treats her animals well and is the kind of person who doesn’t take a bond with a pet lightly. Her cats (that I have known) have lived for 18 years or better, at an average. I know Mel considers an animal as a life-long friend and doesn’t take on an animal as a whim. She, and Mark, will give Dora and Pippi the best of their hearts. I couldn’t ask for better.
Even though I know all this, it was hard to see the girls go. They were my favorites. Dora reminded me so much of our caretaker/snoopervisor cat, April. We lost April in ’05 after 19 years. Dora has her same “This is my World and you are here but to serve my every desire! Now fetch me that treat!”

Dora, the Explorer

Pippi is much shyer than her sister, but still can be very loving. And she has the look of wisdom on her face. She knows things…ancient things…secret things.

Miss Pippi Longstockings

The Happy “New” Mom and Dad

The girls are joining a family already consisting of two dogs and two older cats. When Mel’s first report was that Pippi was just scared and shaking while held on Mel’s lap, it was all I could do to stop from running over to bring her home. If it had been anyone else, I would have. But I know Mel will take good care of the girls. I trust her (and Mark) to love them as much as I do(did).

Being close has its advantages…I got to visit with them today! They both seemed to remember me. (Well, OK…it has only been three days) 🙂 It did my heart good to see them ruling the roost – at least while the dogs were outside. And Mel’s old one-eyed cat Fred came in and nuzzled both girls. I think we’ll have to call him “Uncle Fred” now. He seemed to genuinely like the kittens. And they liked him.

So, now we have two kittens left…and if someone fell in love with Daisy May (aka Mama Cat) we’d consider placing her as well. Don’t be alarmed. If we don’t find suitable homes they will be staying with us. We had pretty much decided to keep Daisy. She’s a very friendly cat. She just needs to temper her playing a bit as I do not appreciate her grabbing my hand and mouthing it like she would one of her kittens. This could also be referred to as “biting”. She doesn’t do it hard enough to break the skin, but she’s got to learn to settle down a bit. She comes when called and is really very affectionate. I think she’ll settle down more when she’s stopped nursing her remaining kittens.Right now, the boys may only get a taste of nursing. She tolerated Dora but seems to not let the boys nurse as she did the girls.
And we’ve decided to find a home where both the boys could go together. It’s really been a blessing to have the other kittens go as pairs to keep each other company.

Rascal says: “I’m staying here! I like it right here where I’m appreciated for the Cat that I am. And I like having my brother, Groucho, to boss around. Who needed those girls anyway?”

Don’t worry, Rascal…it would have to be a VERY, VERY special family to be graced by yours and Groucho’s presence. Yessiree…VERY special indeed!

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